Record visualizing device



Dec. 12, 1944.

A. M. MARTIN RECORD VISUALIZING DEVICE Filed May 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 12, 1944. A. M. MARTIN 2,364,540

RECORD VISUALIZINQ DEVICE Filed May 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W Z J JHU IH i l l 1 .posting.-

Patented Dec. 12, 1944 U NITED STATES PATENT OZFFIC-E ass-4,640

RECORD VISUALIZINGDEVICE Alfred 'M. Martin, Park Ridge, 111. Application lMaytzs, 1942, Serial No. 444,378 '17 Claims. (01. "129-16) have an individual place in echelon for visibility and are at the same time readily removable and replaceable forpurposes, iorexample, of machine In my Patent No. 1,469,798, I disclosed a .filing device of this classin which a plurality of series of loosetleaves might'be so arrangedin ,echelonon transversely running guides or rails, the leaves being notched along the bottom for enga ement with the rails, and also lplate-like partitions against which the respectiveseries of. leaves might lean, thepartitions having thickened side edges providing spacing :means betweenl-the partitions to insure room forthe leaves, and;the partitions that the device .wouldvnoticapsize at suchtimes.

In my Patent No.,2,326,241 dated August 10, 1943, I have disclosed a device of this class in which the covers carry an extensibl auxiliarysupp rt or prop which, when the cover is inclined outwardly, extends itself by the action oifigravityto prevent such capsizing, the prop. being retractable at other times ,so thatthe device may be closed likea book with the base extending no widersthan the device at its upper part when closedand so that a plurality of such devices or filesmay be housed together in a grou one rackcor other standard in closely adjacent'parallelpositions to conserve space when not in use.

In the devices of both my said patents-the partitionsrwere free to move transversely ofthe base except as limited by contact one with the other and inthe devicevof my Patent No. 2,326,241the auxiliary support or prop is :ma ipulatable to place it .in retracted position.

auxiliary support .shall be in efiective position without dependence on the force of gravity when one of the devices or files :is withdrawn from a group .in contactsayon a table or rackand thus insuring the individual stability of the device. :Also whensthe device is returned to the rack the auxiliary supports \may ymerely be pressed inward- 1y Without other manipulation to bring them substantially ,into close proximity with the vertical ;projection,ofthebaselso as to minimize space.

In the present invention, moreover, th partitions emayengage means such as grooves in the :base so as ;to positively limit the-movement of their lower edges transversely of the base and thus make possible the use of-a lighter material :for gthe partitions while guarding against warping thereof and consequent accidental displacement Qfthe leaves, which is particularly important when the device is relatively long in proportion to its width as is common in practice.

:A further object of the present invention is to :D iOvide a base member which maybe constructed lof wood to conserve metaland in which the par tition members do not hook under the rails upon which the leaves are mounted, thus permitting .therailsto besunkinto the wood of the base and to ,be themselves constructed of light nonmetallic material while being maintained rigid by said countersinking and forming with the .grooves and transverse rails somewhat of a gridlike structure.

In the present invention,- 1 have vdisclosed an 50 improved and simplified device of this :in which means are provided for yieldingly ur ing the auxiliary support to an extended position at all times while also limiting positively the degree These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, taken ,together with :the accompanying drawings, in

Eigure -1;-is'a perspective view showing my improved device in open position displaying a series .of leaves ;in working arrangement, some of the partitions being here omitted for clearness of description;

Figure 2 is'a-n enlarged crosssectional view of ,theldevice and being a-section takenon theline :2-2 of;Fig.3, one of the'auxiliary-cover supports bein shown retracted and the other extended;

;-Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view partlyginsection,taken on-the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2; aFfigure (4; is a fragmentary enlargedlongitudinal :section taken on the ;plane -44 of Fig. l; and

. Figure 5 is a reduced partial bottom view of the base.

gRleferring in detail tothe illustrative construc- ,tion shown in the drawings, the base 10 is conveniently-constructed of wood and is an'integral member running throughout the longitudinal diof xtension, .said means thussinsuring that the ;55 lmension of itheidevice, flbeinggrooved in this direction as at I I. The grooves I I are spaced apart in parallel relation and are desirably somewhat V-shape in cross-section as best shown in Fig. 2 for a purpose later more particularly pointed out. Transversely, the base I is kerfed as at I2 to receive the transverse rails I3. The kerfs I2 advantageously extend somewhat deeper than the grooves I I so as to permit the rails I3 to be made in this instance of a light fibreboard material while still being maintained rigid by being countersunk into the base III as just referred to. Along its longitudinal outer margins the base I0 is here shown slotted as at I4, the slots I4 being arranged in pairs and there being in this instance three such pairs, one pair at each end and a pair in the middle of the device, for the reception of pivot tongue members I5 which carry the cover members I6.

Intermediate of the cover members I6 are the partition members I'I, each of which may have its lower edge received in a groove II, the partitions having cut-outs I8 in their lower edges to ermit them to straddle the rails I3 while resting in the grooves. The cut-outs are desirably narrow as shown so as not materially to weaken the lower edges of the partitions. Since in this instance the rails I3 are not spaced above the base and the lower edges of the partitions do not interlock under the rails I3, I have provided retaining means for the partitions at each end of the base I0 in the form of a removable keeper block I9, which may also be of wood and may be secured to the base III as by screws 20. The keeper block I9 has an overhanging part 2| pro.- viding an overhanging shoulder 22 which overhangs all of the grooves II and the partitions II have longitudinally extended portions 23 which are disposed under the shoulder 22 to prevent accidental displacement of the partitions.

As best shown in Fig. 4 the longitudinally extending portions 23 of the partitions are desirably shorter in height than the distance between the bottoms of the grooves II and the shoulder 22 so as to prevent binding of the longitudinal extensions 23 under the shoulder 22. Also the longitudinal dimension of the keeper block shoulder portion 2| is slightly less than the longitudinal dimension of the partition extension 23, so as to provide a clearance at 24 Which prevents wear on the partition at this point. Each partition is desirably stepped at each lower corner, as best shown in Fig. 4 to provide a plurality of shoulders thereat.

The keeper blocks may have their upper outer edges inclined as at 25 and one of these inclined faces 25 may conveniently carry a label holder 25 to provide for designating the contents of the device. The vertical end face 21 of the base is preferably cut back as at 28 to receive the retaining block I9 flush with the end of the base when in attached position as shown in Fig. 4. It will be understood that th partitions may be removed if desired by loosening the screws 20 and removing one or botho-f the keeper blocks I9. By making both keeper blocks removable, I have found it possible to narrow the cut-outs I8 in the lower edges of the partitions to a minimum, the partitions being then lifted out of the grooves II and off the rails I3 by a straight vertical movement without canting.

Reverting to the pivot members I5 for the covers, these are here shown in the form of short metal tongues, which are riveted as at 29 at one end to the covers I6 and depend therebelow in an angled direction as at 30 where they are perforated as at 3I to have loosely passed therethrough screws 32. A tongue I5 and with it its cover I6 may thus have play on the base limited in one direction by the head of the screw 32 as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2 and in the other direction by the wall of the slot I4 as indicated at the righthand side of Fig. 2, this wall being desirably inclined as shown in the drawings to enhance the play referred to, the slots I4 being thus of somewhat triangular formation. Wood finishing strips Iila, running lengthwise along the base III at each side, close the lateral sides of the slots I4 and conceal the screws 32 as well as protecting the ends of the rails I3. These finishing strips also serve as additional stops for the covers IS in their outermost positions and as stops for the auxiliary cover supports, later described, in their innermost position.

It will be understood that both the covers I6 and the partitions I! are intended to be swung from lateral tilting positions across the base III in the slots I4 and grooves II respectively for the purpose of opening the device somewhat like a book to display a series of record leaves 33 as shown in Fig. 1, one of which such series may be inserted adjacent each partition, the leaves 33 having their lower edges notched as at 34 in a well known manner to rest on the rails I3 and to permit of disposing each series of leaves in echelon or imbricated relationship, rendering visible a margin of each leaf in the series for displaying a name or other individual data thereon. During such swinging of the covers and partitions to display various series of leaves as selectively desired, it will be understood that the leaves swipg therewith and as here constructed and arranged the distance between the upper edges of the rails I3 upon which the leaves rest and the bottoms of the grooves II in which the partitions rotate is minimized so as to reduce the arc of movement of the partitions at this point and consequently reduce the travel of the lower edges of the leaves, thus preventing excessive wear thereon during such swinging, the lower edges of the leaves being free of the grooves I I.

To prevent capsizing of the device when opened as shown in Fig. 1, and to enhance its stability in this position, I have provided the auxiliary supports 35, one of which is carried by each of the covers I6, and which when extended as shown in Fig. l and at the right-hand side of Fig. 2, serve somewhat as self-acting props as broadly disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,326,241. Each of the auxiliary supports 35 is here shown hinged to its cover as at 36, the cover having a hinge plate 31 riveted thereto as at 33, and the auxiliary support having a hinge plate 39 riveted thereto as at 40, a hinge rod 4I passing through aligned intercalated ears on these hinge parts respectively. In this instance the auxiliary supports 35 are substantially the same length longitudinally as the covers I8, thus enhancing their effectiveness. There may be several of the hinges 36 just described spaced longitudinally of the device, only the middle one being here shown just back thereof at 43 and the lower margin of the aperture 42 is lapped by a metal bar 44 secured thereto as by rivets 45 to provide a locking lip it with which is engageable the bent end 4! of a leaf spring 48 secured to the auxiliary support 35 as by rivets 49 adjacent the lower end of theleaf spring and auxiliary support respectively. The leaf spring 48 i normally bowed so that it urges the cover It and auxiliary support 35 yieldingly apart as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 2. At this time also the bent end 4'! acts as a hook and by engaging the locking lip 46 limits the movement apart of the cover and auxiliary support. When desired the auxiliary support may be pressed. toward the cover as shown at the lefthand side of Fig. 2, at which time the spring is flattened against its inherent resilience and the hook f! rides in the aperture 42-43, but with the spring 48 under tension at all times so that immediately upon being released it moves the cover and auxiliary support again limitingly apart as shown. The hook 4'! normally automatically engages the locking lip 45 when the auxiliary sup port is extended, but may be manually released therefrom when desired by manually holding hook W and locking lip l5 apart while at the same time extending the auxiliary support on its hinge 36. This may be done by inserting ones fingers under the auxiliary support and pressing the spring during this movement. It will be understood, however, that it would not normally be desired to release the spring.

Thus the auxiliary supports 35, so provided with yielding means constantly urging them outwardly but also limiting their movement, accommodate themselves in a, markedly efficient manner to use of the devices either in a group in close contact one with the other as shown in Fig. 1, of my Patent No. 2,326,241 or singly as shown in Fig. 2 of that patent.

The cover members 16, the partitions l1, and the auxiliary supports may be advantageously formed of a plate-like fibreboard material, the covers and auxiliary supports being desirably of somewhat heavier material than the partitions. On the inner faces of the cover members I6 I have shown a sub-cover 5|] of still lighter paper-.

like material, which may be fastened as by being glued to the lower part of the cover as at 5l-but may be free therefrom as at the upper part of the device. Adjacent this upper part, the covers may advantageously have hand-holes 52 into which the fingers of the user may be inserted for the purposes of lifting the device when desired, the sub-covers being readily displaced as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 2 to permit entry of the fingers but by their inherent resiliency returning to position as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 2, to close the holes 52 when the fingers are removed.

The upper edges of the covers and partitions may be advantageously widened as by wood cap strips 53 running throughout their length and which serve both to stiffen and reinforce the covers and partitions and also to space the latter apart to allow space for the leaves 33 without crowding. The cap strips 53 may also carry re- -movable index tabs as indicated at 54 (Fig. 2)

in the usual manner.

80 constructed and arranged, the partition members I? are retained at their lower edges in their respective positions as determined by the grooves ll, thus avoiding jamming or crowding of the partitions or of the leaves inserted therebetween, in addition .to the fact that this construction guards against warping of the partitions. In this swinging movement of the partitions from side to side, with their lower edges retained by the grooves l I, the partitions are advantageously free of the transverse rails l3. The V-shape of the grooves accommodates the swinglng movement of the partitions.

Since the base i0 is here shown constructed of wood, it will not scratch the ordinary desk when used thereon, but to further prevent any scratching the underface of the base may carry rest pads 55 which may be of a fabric material'such as corduroy, velvet or the like cut in disc form and having their peripheries countersunk into annular recesses as at 56 (Figs. 4 and 5). Thus the central part of the pad as at 5! (Fig. 4) is offset downwardly below the lower surface of the base It, preventing direct contact of the base with a table top or the like, and providing friction resisting slipping.

It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to details of construction here shown for illustrative purposes, as modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, it is not intended that it be understood that all features of the present disclosure must be used conjointly, since it will be apparent to Workers in the art that various combinations or subcombinations may at times be advantageously employed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a base member therefor having parallel grooves cut therein running lengthwise thereof receiving the lower edges of partition members thereof and slots in the outer margin receiving cover member pivot tongues therein whereby the partition and covers may swing from lateral tilting positions to upright positions in said grooves and slots respectively, a pair of cover members carried by the-pivot tongues, each of said cover members comprising a rigid outer cover part and a flexible sub-cover part, said parts being intimately secured together adjacent the lower portions thereof and being free adjacent their upper portions, and a hand-hole in the outer cover part adjacent the upper part thereof whereby the sub-cover normally closes the hand-hole but is readily displaced to permit entry of the fingers thereinto for purposes of lifting the device.

2. In a device of the class described, a base member therefor having slots in the outer margin receiving cover member pivot tongues therein whereby the' covers may swing from lateral tilting positions to upright positions in said slots, and a pair of cover members carried by the pivot tongues, eachsaid pivot tongue being rigidly secured to the cover at one end and having a depending lower end, one of the slots in the base receiving said depending lower end, aperforation in the said lower end, and a, headed member passing loosely through the perforation and into the base whereby the cover may swing laterally of the base limited in one direction by the head of the headed member and in the other direction by the wall of the slot.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a base for mounting record leaves thereon, of a pair of cover members carried by the base, each of said cover members comprising a rigid outer cover part and a flexible sub-cover part, said parts being secured together adjacent the lower portions thereof and being vfree adjacent their upper portions, and a handhole in the outer cover part adjacent the upper part thereof whereby the sub-cover normally closes the hand-hole but is readily displaced to permit entry of the fingers thereinto for purposes of lifting the device.

4. In a device of the class described, a pair of cover members, partition members between the cover members, pivot tongues on the covers, a base member therefor having grooves each receiving the lower edge of a partition member thereof and slots in the longitudinal outer margin receiving the cover pivot tongues therein whereby the partitions and covers may swing from lateral tilting positions to upright positions in said grooves and slots respectively, wherein there is a removable keeper block at one end of the base having a shoulder portion overhanging all of the grooves, and the partitions having longitudinal projections received under said shoulder portion to retain the partitions in the grooves and wherein the keeper block carries a label holder, and means at the other end of the base for retaining the partitions in the grooves.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a base for supporting record sheets in echelon thereon, of a pair of cover members carried by the base to swing from lateral tilting positions to upright positions, a prop support carried by each cover, and resilient means urging the supports outwardly whereb they are extended in normal position to prevent capsizing of the device but may be pressed inwardly when desired, wherein said means comprises a normally bowed leaf spring between the cover and support permanently fastened to one thereof and releasably hooked onto the other, wherein a looking lip is carried by the said part onto which the leaf spring hooks and the free end of the spring is bent to engage said locking lip.

6. In a device of the class described, a pair of cover members, a base member therefor having triangular slots in the outer margin for receiving cover pivot tongues therein, said tongues having their lower ends bent to conform to a diagonal wall of said slots, means pivotally retaining the tongues in said slots whereby the covers may swing from lateral tilting positions to upright positions in said slots, and a finishing strip along each longitudinal edge of the base, said finishing strips closing said slots and assisting to retain the cover members therein.

7. In a structure of the class described, a base, a pair of cover members carried by the base to swing from lateral tilting positions to upright position, an auxiliary support carried by each cover, a metal spring between each cover and its auxiliary support urging the auxiliary support outwardly whereby it is extended in normal position to" prevent capsizing of the device but may be pressed inwardly when desired to conserve space, and interengaging means carried by the covers and the springs limiting the outward movements of the auxiliary supports with respect to the covers.

8. In a structure of the class described, a base, a pair of cover members carried by the base to swing from lateral tilting positions to upright position, an auxiliary support carried by each cover, a leaf spring between each cover and its auxiliary support urging the auxiliary support outwardly whereby it is extended in normal position to prevent capsizing of the device by may be pressed inwardly when desired to conserve space, and releasable interengaging means carried by the covers and the leaf springs limiting the outward movements of the auxiliary supports with respect to the covers.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base for supporting record sheets in echelon thereon, of a cover member carried by the base to swing from lateral tilting positions to upright positions, a prop support carried by the cover, a leaf spring secured at its lower end to the prop support and normally bent inwardly at its upper end toward the cover, the spring being further bent at its top to form a hook, and a locking lip carried by the cover engaging the hook whereby the prop support is extended in normal position from the cover a limited distance to prevent capsizing of the device but may be pressed inwardly to lie against the cover when desired.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base for supporting record sheets in echelon thereon, of a cover member carried by the base to swing from lateral tilting positions to upright positions, a prop support carried by the cover, a leaf spring riveted at its lower end to the prop support and normally bent inwardly at its upper end toward the cover, the spring being further bent at its top to form a hook, and a looking lip carried by the cover engaging the hook whereby the prop support is extended in normal position from the cover a limited distance to prevent capsizing of the device but may be pressed inwardly to lie against the cover when desired, wherein the locking lip is formed by securing a plate to the face of the cover and cutting the cover away behind said plate.

11. In a device of the class described for supporting, in echelon, a plurality of series of record leaves having notched lower edges, the combination, with a pair of cover members, of an elongate base member therefor of non-metallic material formed with transverse kerf in parallel arrangement therealong, rail members having their entire lower edges snugly fitted into said kerfs and their upper edges upstanding from said base for receiving the notched edges of the leaves thereon, slots spaced along the outer longitudinal margins of the base, screws threaded into the said slots, pivot tongues for the covers loosely engaging said screws, and a finishing strip along each longitudinal edge of the base closing said kerfs and slots.

12. In a device of the class described for supporting in echelon a plurality of series of record leaves having notched lower edges, the combination, with a pair of cover members, of an elongate base member therefor formed with transverse kerfs in parallel arrangement therealong, rail members having their entire lower edges snugly fitted into said kerfs and their upper edges upstanding from said base for receiving the notched edges of the leaves thereon, slots spaced along the outer longitudinal margins of the base, fastener members secured in said slots, pivot tongues for the covers loosely engaging said fastener members and adapted to pivot thereon, and a finishing strip along each longitudinal edge of the base closing said kerfs and slots.

13. In a device of the class described, a pair of cover members, pivot tongues on the covers, a base member therefor having slots in its outer margins for receiving the cover pivot tongues therein, means carried by the base pivotally retaining the tongues in said slots whereby the covers may swing from lateral tilting positions to upright positions on the base, and a finishing strip secured along each longitudinal edge of the base, said finishing strips closing said slots and assisting to retain the cover members therein.

14. In a device of the class described for supporting a plurality of series of record leaves, the combination of a base member therefor, an overhanging shoulder formation at each end of the base, and a plurality of partition members having longitudinally extended portions received under the overhanging shoulder formations, at least one of said overhanging shoulder formations being provided by a removable keeper block, a label holder carried by the keeper block, and means removably securing the block to the base.

15. In a device for supporting series of record leaves, the combination of an elongate base member therefor, a pair of covers pivoted on the said base to swing from lateral tilting positions to up right positions thereon, an, auxiliary support of substantially rigid material for each cover, a metal spring between the cover and the auxiliary support urging the auxiliary support outwardly, whereby it is extended in normal positions but may be pressed inwardly when desired to conserve space, said spring being protected and normally concealed by said auxiliary support and having one end anchored to said cover and its other end anchored to the auxiliary support,

, and positive means limiting outward movement of the auxiliary supports with respect to the covers.

16. In a device of the class described for supporting in echelon a plurality of series of record leaves having notched lower edges, the combination of an elongate base member therefor formed with transverse kerfs in parallel longitudinally spaced apart arrangement therealong, rail members having their lower edges snugly fitted into said kerfs and their upper edges upstanding from said base for receiving the notched lower edges of the leaves thereon, a plurality of slots in the outer longitudinal margins of the base, a cover ,tongue pivoted in each slot, a cover secured to the tongues on a side of the base, and a finishing strip secured along each side of the base closing said slots on a side respectively and protecting the ends of said rail members, said finishing strip also providing a stop member for the cover when moved to tilting position.

17; In a device of the class described for supporting in echelon a plurality of series of record leaves having notched lower edges,-the combination of an elongate base member therefor formed with transverse kerfs in parallel longitudinally spaced apart arrangement therealong, rail members having their lower edges snugly fitted into said kerfs and their upper edges upstanding from said base for receiving the notched lower edges of the leaves thereon, a plurality of slots in the outer longitudinal margins of the base, a cover tongue pivoted in each slot, a cover secured to the tongues on a side of the base, an auxiliary support for each cover, a spring between the cover and the support urging the support outwardly, and a finishing strip secured along each side of the base closing said slots on a side respectively and protecting the ends of said rail members, said finishing strip also providing a stop member for the auxiliary support when moved toward the cover and for the cover when moved to tilting position.

ALFRED M. MARTIN. 

